SMITH & WESSON .30 CALIBER CARBINE TEST REVOLVER Description
.30 M1 Carbine cal., double action revolver built on N target frame. S&W produced several revolvers with fixed and target sights, chambered in .30 Carbine, which were built on a five screw N frame on a test basis. Some of these were submitted to the Army for evaluation and tested on Jan. 17, 1944 at APG . These revolvers passed an endurance test with no breakages, but shooters objected to the severe muzzle blast, and the Army did not see a military requirement for further purchase. The military report also states that the shooters did not wear hearing protection. In this case it is apparent that muzzle blast would be excessive. At least three examples are known to still exist in private collections. Serial number 4 is of a prewar target configuration with a cylinder length of 1.6 in. using half moon clips when needed. It has a 5 in. barrel with a Patridge front sight and prewar features with post war grips on a frame with a 6 groove backstrap and forestrap. In October 2003, serial number 2 was auctioned by James D. Julia and is the revolver in the 1944 test by APG as tracked by the assembly number used in that test report. Reports are that this and two others were ordered by General "Hap" Arnold, further accurate details are unknown. Records in the National Archives about this revolver are scarce, but research is still on-going by Charles Pate.